Prefabricated structure



NOV. 15, WHELAN PREFABRICATED STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 16, 1964 Z2 FIGZ.

FIGI.

INVENTORfi JOSEPH A. WHELAN United States Patent() 3,285,635PREFABRICATED STRUCTURE Joseph A. Whelan, Grubb Road, P.O. Box .114,Paoli, Pa.

Filed Oct. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 404,220 Claims. (Cl. 287-2032) The presentinvention relates to prefabricated buildings and similar structures andhas particular application to the connections of prefabricated panelsections thereof.

Prior to the present invention, it was impractical to preassemblecomplete panel sections for erection in a building or other structurebecause of the difficulty of properly connecting the panel sections. Toovercome this difliculty, it is the conventional practice topreassenible the panel sections partially, omitting the final facingsheet 'or wallboard panel so as to expose the interior portions of thepanel section to permit access for tightening fasteners or for nailingthe panel sections together. 'It has also been proposed to provide thepanel sections with books or other releasable fasteners along themarginal edges to enable interconnection of adjacent or adjoining panelsections. However, the conventional hooks or other fasteners of thischaracter do not permit secure tightening of the fastener so as toprovide a rigid joint which is proof against inadvertent disconnectionor dislodgment.

More specifically, the present invention provides a connector forprefabricated building panel sections which may be disposed in recessesin the marginal portion thereof to permit interconnection of the panelsections and tightening thereof without needing access to the interiorof the panel section. a

The present invention provides a novel arrangement for prefabricatedpanel sectionswherein the connections between adjacent panel sectionsare confined to the marginal portions thereof, whereby. the connectorsper so may be hidden by the conventional cover strips which are appliedabout the periphery of the sections-and to the joints between adjacentpanel sections toconceal the line of juncture thereof.

The present invention therefore provides a structural assemblycomprising a plurality of preformed panel sections, said panel sectionsbeing adapted to be mounted in abutting or adjoining relation, one ofsaid panel sections being provided with a number of internally-threadedmembers and the other of said panel sections being provided with a likenumber of externally-threaded members adapted to threadably engage saidinternally-threaded members; one of said members being fixed againstrotation in its associated panel section and the other of said memiceFIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a connection of a panelsection with a foundation support in acoordance with the invention; and

- FIG. 4 is a vertical section of an assembly of a panel section to afoundation support in accordance with the present invention.

The conventional wall construction for buildings and similar structuresincludes horizontal floor and ceiling plates and a plurality of verticalstuddings spanning between and supporting the floor and ceiling plates.Facing panels, in the form of wallboard, plywood, clapboard, compositionboard, and the like, are mounted on the studdings and plates with orwithout insulation therebe tween, depending on the use to which thestructure will be put. In precut and custom structures, the studding iserected and assembled in situ and the facing is secured in place.Normally, the exterior [facing of an outdoor structure is assembledconcurrently with the studding and plates, providing additionalstructural rigidity thereto prior to the application of the interiorfacing to the wall structure. This final step requires considerableskill and artistry to insure a neat and workman-like job and it isapparent that the erection of precut and custom structures entails aconsiderable expenditure of skilled and semiskilled labor at thebuilding sites.

In order to reduce the expenditure for skilled and semiskilled labor atthe building site, prefabricated buildings have come into wide usage. Inprefabricated buildings, substantial portions of the building areassembled remote from the building site and are shipped as assembledpanel sections to the building site where they may be erected andassembled on the foundation or other support. It has been the practice,however, to only temporarily attach the interior facing tothe panelsections in order that this facing may be removed to permit access tothe interior of the panel assembly to permit connection of adjacentpanel sections to each other and to the hound-ation; After the sectionsof the structure are assembled, the interior facings are permanentlysecured to the sections. Not infrequently, in the course of theconstruction, considerable damage is done to the facing elements,resulting in loss.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel panel section isprovided which eliminates the need for removing the facing to provideaccess to the interior thereof for erection and assembly. To this end,each panel section is of substantially conventional constructioncomprising inbers being rotatably mounted in its associated panel 'sec-I tion to permit a threaded connection of said pane-l sections.

Ina preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotatablethreaded member is provided with means affording longitudinaldisplacement thereof to enable said member to be positioned within theoutline of its associated panel section for shipping and storage, butwhich affords projection thereof beyond said outline for engagement withthe complementary threaded member when being assembled.

All of the objects of the present invention are more fully set forthhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: 1

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a pair of adjoining panel sections priorto assembly illustrating an arrangement of connecting means inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section through a completed assembly of panelsections in accordance with the present invention;

terior supports including ceiling and floor plates and a plurality ofuprights, forming the studdin-g. In the embodiment shown in the drawing,the interior and exterior facing elements are shown at 21 and 22respectively. The upright at one end of the section is shown at 23 andthe complementary upright at the opposite end is shown at 24 (see FIGS.1 and 2). In the present instance, the bottom support or floor plate 31(see FIGS. 4 and 5) is molded or otherwise formed of plastic material,preferably a plastic which is nailable so as to permit nailing, whichenables securing the facings 21 and 22 thereto. In the present instance,as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the panel section is designed to be mountedon a concrete support or footing 33 surrounding in the present instancea cement floor 34. The interior panel support elements and the ciacingsare preassem-bled into sections which may be conveniently handled andshipped to the construction site for erection on the footings 33. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the footings have been designed to accommodatethe preformed panel sections and to this end, are provided atpredetermined sp aoed intervals with upstanding studs 36 which,

in the present instance, are externally threaded and project above theupper surface of the supporting footing a predetermined amount.

In order to anchor the panel sections to the footings, a complementarythreaded fastener is mounted in the bottom supports or floor plates 31to register with each of the upstanding fasteners 36. In the presentinstance, the complementary fastener comprises a shaft 41 whose hollowshank 43 is internally threaded at 48 and has a tool grip portion 42 atits outer extremity, in the present instance in the form of a polygonal,wrench-receiving head. The fastener 41 is received in a casing 44embedded in the bottom support 31 and having a stepped hollow portionproviding a bearing surface 45. The internal end of the fastener 41 isprovided with an enlarged bearing 46 and washer 47 adapted to bear onthe surface 45 so that upon engagement of the internal threads 48 withthe threads 37 of the fastener 36, and tightening of the fastening bythe application of a wrench to the grip 42 affords secure anchoring ofthe panel section to the footing. It is noted that the fastener 41 ismounted in the casing 44 for both vertical and rotational displacementso as to enable easy tightening of the fastener 41 on the fastener 36,and to permit retraction of the fastener 41 out of the path of thefastener 36 during initial erection of the panel section on the footing.In the present instance, when the bearing head 46 and Washer 47 bearagainst the surface 45, the free end of the fastener 41 is spaced abovethe lower terminal edge of the panel section so that the fastener 41does not project outwardly from the outline of the panel section duringshipment. The extent to which the fastener projects from the casing maybe varied by adjusting the bearing head on the shank 43, for example bythe pinned connection indicated at 49.

In order to provide access for the tightening of the fastener 41 on thefastener 37, the support 41 and the facing 21 are cut away as indicatedat 51 and 52 to provide a marginal recess designated generally at 53along the lower marginal edge of the panel section. The mar ginal recess53 enables a wrench or other tool to engage the free end of the fastener41 and provides operating room for the wrench or other tightening tool.After the panel section is tightened to the support 33, the recesses 53along the bottom marginal edge of the section are covered by finishingstrips such as a suitable cove or baseboard 55 and quarter-round 56.The. finishing strips may be mounted on the panel section in any desiredmanner, either by clips engaging in the recesses 53 therealong or bynailing or screwing directly through the facing 21 into the floor joist31. The height of the recesses 53 is sufliciently small to permitcovering by a conventional finishing strip, but is amply large to afforda secure connection of the section to its support by the fasteners.

A similar arrangement is provided for anchoring the panel sections toone another. To this end, one of the internal end supports in thepresent instance the upright 23, is provided with a female fastener 61similar to the fastener 41; and the complementary end support, theterminal upright 24, is provided with a male fastener 62. In the presentinstance, the fastener 62 comprises a carriage bolt having a headportion 63 embedded in the support 24 and a shank 65 having its freeterminal end threaded as indicated at 66. In the present instance, theshank 65 is of a length corresponding substantially to the thickness ofthe upright 24 so that the free end of the shank does not project beyondthe outline of the panel section. To permit access to the threadedshank, the upright support and the facing panels are recessed at 68 soas to expose the threaded portion 66 of the shank 65.

The female fastener 61 is mounted in the support 23 for rotational andlongitudinal displacement therein. The inner end of the fastener isprovided with a bearing head 71 and Washer 72 adapted to bear againstthe inner surface of the support 23. The fastener 61 has a shank 73 4end of the shank 65 of the male fastener 62. The terminal portion of theshank 73 is provided with a toolgrip portion 76, in the presentinstance, in the form of a polygonal head for receiving a wrench orother suitable tool. The aperture 74 permits free rotation of the shank73 therein so as to permit threaded engagement of the fastener 61 withthe fastener 62. In the present instance, the projection of the fastener61 from the upright is controlled by adjusting the bearing portion 71 onthe shank 73 by means of a pinned connection, indicated at 70 in FIG. 2.If desired, other adjustment means may be provided; for example, thebearing may consist of a nut threaded on the shank and anchored thereonby a cotter pin.

Prior to assembly of adjoining panel sections, the toolgrip portion 76is retracted into a recess 78 in the upright support 23 corresponding tothe recess 68 in the upright support 24. In this way, the two panelsections may be readily aligned Without the fasteners interfering withone another. When the assemblies are in proper alignment, the fastener61 is displaced axially into engagement with the fastener 62 and isthreadably engaged therewith so as to tighten the panel sections intosecure engagement. It is noted that the recesses 68 and 78 are generallyarcuate in form so as to provide for space permitting engagement of awrench or other tool with the tool-grip 76 and operation of the tool toeffect proper tightening of the fasteners. The depth of the recess issufficient to expose a suflicient length of threads 66 to provide a firmengagement of the fasteners and also to receive the toolgrip portion 76completely within the con-fines of the recess. After assembly andsecurement of the fasteners between adjacent assemblies, a cover strip81 is secured along the joint between the assemblies, thereby coveringthe recesses. The finishing strip 81 may be mounted in any desiredmanner, either by clips engaging in the recesses 68 and 78, or bynailing or screwing directly through the facing 21 into the uprights 23and 24. If desired, a similar cover strip (not shown) may be employed tocover the joint between the panel assemblies on the opposite side of theassembly.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the present invention provides apanel section for a building structure or the like which may becompletely preassembled remote from the building site and may beconnected to similar panel sections without special tools to provide asecure and rigid structural assembly. The connections between thesections and between the section and the supporting foundation areconfined to the extreme marginal portions of the panel sections and aretherefore readily concealed by cover strips disposed about the marginaledge of the 7 sections. Since the panel sections may be assembled atmounted in an aperture 74 of the upright support 23 and has at its outerextremity, a hollow portion which is internally threaded for engagementwith the threaded a location remote from the building site, thecomponents may be designed to accommodate mechanized assembly and neednot conform to the standard building materials which must be used whenthe panel sections must be partially assembled at the building site.

I While particular embodiments of the present invention have been hereinillustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention tosuch disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a prefabricated structure, at least one panel section havingspaced parallel facing elements and supports therebetween, said supportsincluding a support member coextensive with and disposed along at leastone marginal edge of said section, a female fastener rotatably mountedin said support member to pass therethrough, the inner end ofsaidfastener having a bearing portion adapted to engage against an innersurface on said support. member, the outer portion of said fastenerbeing hollow and inter nally threaded and having a tool-grip portionadjacent to the free end thereof, said panel section being provided witha recess along the marginal edge thereof to house said tool-grip portionand to permit engagement thereof by an actuating tool to forcibly andthreadably engage said fastener with an externally-threaded malecomplementary fastener mounted on a support adjoining said panel sectionto thereby firmly anchor said panel section thereon.

2. A panel section according to claim 1 wherein said female fastener ismounted for axial displacement in said support member between retractedand extended positions, in the retracted position said fastener beinghoused completely Within said recess so as to lie within the outline ofsaid panel section in axially spaced relation to the com plementary malefastener on the adjoining support, said female fastener operable to beextended to threadably engage said male fastener, whereby said femalefastener avoids interference with said male fastener during erection ofsaid panel section.

3. A panel section according to claim 2 wherein said female fastenercomprises a shank portion having an enlarged polygonal head at its freeend forming said toolgrip portion, said bearing portion being adjustableon said shank to determine the extent of said axial displacement.

4. A panel section according to claim 3 wherein said support membermounts a hollow casing for receiving said female fastener, said casingbeing stepped to provide said inner bearing surface for engaging saidbearing portion of said fastener.

5. A prefabricated structure comprising at least two panel sectionsmounted in abutting relation, each section comprising a support member,the support members of said panel sections adapted to be mounted inabutting relation, means defining marginal recesses in said panelsection, said recesses cooperating to provide a tool-receiving opening,an externally-threaded male fastener mounted in the support member ofone panel section having a shank passing therethrough and terminating insaid opening, an internally-threaded female fastener mounted in thesupport member of the other panel section having a shank passing throughsaid member and terminating in said opening, said fasteners beinglongitudinally aligned and mounted for relative longitudinal androtatable displacement to permit threaded engagement of the free endsthereof, bearing portions at the opposite ends thereof adapted to bearagainst an inner surface on said support member whereby upon tighteningof said fasteners said support members are rigidly anchored inengagement.

6, A structure according to claim 5 wherein said male member is fixedlymounted in its associated support against rotary and longitudinaldisplacement, the female member having a tool-grip portion disposed insaid opening for being engaged by a tool for effecting forcible threadedengagement of said male and female fasteners.

7. A structure according to claim 6 wherein said male fastenerterminates at its free end within the recess of said one panel section,and the free end of said female fastener is displaceable longitudinallybetween a retracted position within the recess of said other panelsection and an extended position engaging said male fastener within therecess of said one panel section, whereby when the female fastener isretracted said panel sections may be erected in abutting relationwithout interference between said fasteners.

8. A structure according to claim 7 wherein said toolgrip portioncomprises an enlarged polygonal head operable to limit the inward axialdisplacement of said female fastener.

9. A structure according to claim 5 including a cover strip mountedalong the joint between said panel sections and covering the openingstherein.

10. A fastener comprising a male and female member, the male memberconsisting of a shank, externally threaded at the connecting end andhaving means for securely positioning said member at the other end, thefemale member being rotatable and axially displaceable and consisting ofan elongated shank having at one connecting end an internally threadedhollow connecting end portion and an enlarged polygonal tool-gripportion, said shank of the female member having at its opposite end aseparate bearing portion and means to adjust said portion on said shankto determine the extent of axial displacement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 167,118 8/1875Pritchett 20-92 638,494 12/1899 Brock 52272 692,052. 1/1902 Forster312111 1,335,554 3/1920 Callahan 20--92 1,467,824 9/1923 Ahlers.2,648,248 8/1953 Cedarquist 32 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

A. I. BREIER, Assistant Examiner.

10. A FASTENER COMPRISING A MALE AND FEMALE MEMBER, THE MALE MEMBERCONSISTING OF A SHANK, EXTERNALLY THREADED AT THE CONNECTING END ANDHAVING MEANS FOR SECURELY POSITIONING SAID MEMBER AT THE OTHER END, THEFEMALE MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE AND AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE AND CONSISTING OFAN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING AT ONE CONNECTING END AN INTERNALLY THREADEDHOLLOW CONNECTING END PORTION AND AN ENLARGED POLYGONAL TOOL-GRIPPORTION, SAID SHANK OF THE FEMALE MEMBER HAVING AT ITS OPPOSITE END ASEPARATE BEARING PORTION AND MEANS TO ADJUST SAID PORTION ON SAID SHANKTO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF AXIAL DISPLACEMENT.